Inflatable device having amusement and utilitarian purposes

ABSTRACT

A novel manually inflatable cushion device is provided which is so constructed as to enable it to be used in any one of a large number of amusement activities as by being carried by, and used on the hand or foot of the user as a much enlarged fingerless glove or shoe; serving in the water as a life preserver or float, etc.; used in the manner of a conventional cushion or pillow, etc. Briefly stated, the device comprises a generally circular bladder having a valve for purposes of inflation, and being provided on its interior with a pair of air compartments which are in communication with the valve and an intermediately disposed compartment which communicates with the atmosphere and serves to receive the hand or foot of the user if desired. Adjacent the opening of the intermediately disposed compartment is a strap which extends generally across the same to serve as a retainer for hand or foot which may be disposed therewithin.

United States Patent [191 Clemente Apr. 9, 1974- [75] Inventor: Joseph J. Clemente, Virginia Beach,

[73] Assignee: Gerald A. Causino, Oxon Hill, Md.

[22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 303,077

[52] U.S. Cl 9/307, 9/309, 9/311, 272/1 B [51] Int. Cl A63b 31/06 [58] Field of Search 9/30l, 307, 308, 309, 311, 9/312, 310 D, 344; D7l/1 CC, 1 I-II-I; 272/1 B; 46/87, 91; 273/58 R 56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 759,521 10/1956 Great Britain 9/309 1,322,734 2/1963 France 9/309 Primary Examiner-George E. A. l-Ialvosa Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer [57] ABSTRACT A novel manually inflatable cushion device is provided which is so constructed as to enable it to be used in any one of a large number of amusement activities as by being carried by, and used on the hand or foot of the user as a much enlarged fingerless glove or shoe; serving in the water as a life preserver or float, etc.; used in the manner of a conventional cushion or pillow, etc. Briefly stated, the device comprises a generally circular bladder having a valve for purposes of inflation, and being provided on its interior with a pair of air compartments which are in communication with the valve and an intermediately disposed compartment which communicates with the atmosphere and serves to receive'the hand effect of the user if desired. Adjacent the opening of the intermediately disposed compartment is a strap which extends generally across the same to serve as a retainer .for hand or foot which may be disposed therewithin.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures INFLATABLE DEVICE HAVING AMUSEMENT AND UTILITARIAN PURPOSES It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel and manually inflatable cushion device comprising a generally circular bladder having an internal structure which enables the device to be utilized in a number of ways other than simply in the manner of a life preserver, or cushion or pillow.

Another object is the provision of a device which possesses the foregoing advantages, and which besides being effective for its intended purposes, is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and durable in service.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other desirable objects and purposes, I have designed the present, preferred embodiments of the invention presented in the accompany drawings forming a part of this specification and to which reference should be had in connection with the following detailed description, and in these drawings, for simplicity, like reference numerals have been employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention as carried on the right hand of the user;

' FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device, illustrating the interiorly disposed elements in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the device as carried on one of the feet of the user;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevational view illustrating more fully the manner of disposition of the interior pocket earlier referred to.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device of the invention is generally indicated at A, the same comprising upper and lower pieces (1 and 2, respectively) of plastic of suitable size, shape and flexibility; which are connected together at their edges 3 by a continuous air-tight seal 3 which may be formed in any suitable manner.

Air is supplied to the interior of the device of the invention through a valve 4, whereby it may be inflated to assume the shape of either FIG. I or FIG. 4. When in deflated condition the upper and lower pieces 1 and 2 are flat and substantially planar.

It is a very important feature of the present invention that the interior of the space between the upper piece 1 and the lower piece 2 be provided with an interior compartment B of such size and shape that it will accommodate the hand or foot of the user and for other purposes which will be referred to hereinafter; and for this purpose the said upper and lower pieces 1 and 2 may be provided along the edges thereof with a pair of extending companion pieces 10 and 2a which are directed backwardly into the interior of the device.

These companion pieces la and 2a which, together, form the interior hand or foot pocket B, are connected together along their adjoining edges with a continuous air-tight seal 30.

As will be understood by those skilled in the plastic arts, the seal 30 at the adjoining edges of the pieces la and 2a may be formed in any of several different ways; one of which is to perform this step with the companion pieces Ia and 20 extending from the peripheries of the pieces I and 2, either before or after the formation of the main seal 3, with the pocket B, after completion, simply directed backwardly upon itself and into the interior, or main cavity of the device.

Another feature is the provision of a hand-grip or strap 6 which is disposed within the pocket B adjacent the inner end of the latter. This hand-grip member may simply comprise an elongated plastic strip which is secured at its ends to the adjacent face of the inner surface of either the upper piece la or the lower piece 20, or both; and may be secured in position at any suitable stage in the formation of the device.

Preferably, the edges of the upper piece 1 and the lower piece 2 are provided, at either side of the opening of the compartment B, with tabs 9 which may be formed at the same time as the formation of the airtight seal 3. These tabs 9 are provided with holes9a in order for each of them to receive one end of a strap 10 (see FIG. 3). Thus, the foot of a child or adult may be inserted into the pocket B with the straps 10 extended behind the Achilles tendon and connected, as by forming a knot, to thereby hold the device A in position to serve as an enlarged shoe such as might be worn by a circus clown, etc.

As mentioned earlier herein,-the device may when inflated serve as a life preserver, or in the general manner of a cushion or pillow.

When deflated, the device may be utilized as an apron or as a bib for an infant; with appropriate ties (not shown) substituted for the straps 10 which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Further, the device while deflated or partially deflated may be used with the pocket B serving as a tote bag and the joined straps 10 providing a handle.

Although the device of the invention is adapted to serve in a number of useful capacities, it may, as indicated hereinbefore, be simply and inexpensively manufactured.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. An inflatable device having a variety of amusement and utilitarian purposes, including, but not limited to, several different articles of apparel: said device comprising, in combination a pair of separable panels of flexible and impervious material said panels being of similar size and shape and joined throughout the major portions of the edge areas thereof by a substantially air-tight seal the remaining portions of the edge areas of said panels being extended and diverted inwardly between said panels and joined throughout their edge areas with a substantially air-tight seal to thereby form an interior pocket said interior pocket being of such size and shape as to receive a human hand or foot and a valve for enabling the inflation of the space between said panels.

2. The combination of claim 1, together with a pair of tying elements secured to, and extending from, the edges of said panels adjacent the outer ends of the interior pocket therein.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein a hand-hold strap is disposed in, and extends transversely of, the pocket.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein a hand-hold strap is disposed in, and extends transversely of, the pocket. 

1. An inflatable device having a variety of amusement and utilitarian purposes, including, but not limited to, several different articles of apparel: said device comprising, in combination a pair of separable panels of flexible and impervious material said panels being of similar size and shape and joined throughout the major portions of the edge areas thereof by a substantially air-tight seal the remaining portions of the edge areas of said panels being extended and diverted inwardly between said panels and joined throughout their edge areas with a substantially air-tight seal to thereby form an interior pocket said interior pocket being of such size and shape as to receive a human hand or foot and a valve for enabling the inflation of the space between said panels.
 2. The combination of claim 1, together with a pair of tying elements secured to, and extending from, the edges of said panels adjacent the outer ends of the interior pocket therein.
 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein a hand-hold strap is disposed in, and extends transversely of, the pocket.
 4. The combination of claim 2, wherein a hand-hold strap is disposed in, and extends transversely of, the pocket. 